On the sad, tragic date, the 20th anniversary of the involuntary disappearance of Viktor Gonchar and Anatoly Krasovsky, the city of Eindhoven, Netherlands, commemorated the two men, as well as involuntary disappeared Yuri Zakharenko and Dmitry Zavadsky. The commemoration ceremony took place on September 16th, 2019, at the site of living memorial Four Trees. The four trees were planted on September 16th, 2008 in the centre of Eindhoven which back then was a twin-city of Minsk, were the disappearances took place.
The honour of the opening speech was traditionally given to the daughter of Anatoly Krasovsky, Valeriya who lives in the Netherlands. Her speech was personal and emotional. Mary-Ann Schreurs (Municipality of Eindhoven), Christie Midema (Amnesty International), Wim Dekkers (FNV) also held a speech. Jessica Bartels (Eindhoven city poet) read her poem that she wrote especially for this sad occasion. Poet Leo Mesman read his poem Four Trees which he wrote back in 2008 and which is engraved on the memorial board. Leo Mesman also read poem Torch by Catharina Boer, which she wrote for the commemoration of 2013. Catharina Boer died this summer.
The ceremony ended with the participants decorating the four trees with origami birds.
Following the commemoration, presentation of the photobook Four Trees took place. The book is a documentary collection of photographs made on September 16 in Eindhoven in the years 2008-2018 as well as poems written in all those years for the commemorations.
Both events were organized by Amnesty International, FNV and We Remember.
For more information (in Dutch) please refer to the official website of the event: http://www.vierbomen.nl
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- Christie Miedema
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- Leo Mesman
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- Jessica Bartels
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